The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 5) investigating a suspected case of food poisoning related to the consumption of wild mushrooms, and urged the public not to pick and eat wild mushrooms.
The case involves a female aged 52, who developed chills, sweating, increased salivation, vomiting and diarrhoea about three hours after consuming mushrooms at home on September 3. She sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on September 4 and was admitted to the hospital for further management. She has been in a stable condition and was discharged.
Initial investigations revealed that the patient received the wild mushrooms from a hiker she met around Lion Rock on September 3. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.
"Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms such as profuse sweating, hallucinations, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," he added.
​"If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.
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